Friday April 17, 2026 | VICTORIA, BC
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
The Province is providing nearly $2.5 million through the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund for 54 Emergency Support Services projects.
The goals is to strengthen emergency support for people displaced by emergencies (aka evacuees) through support to communities for equipment, volunteer recruitment and training.
Through this fund, since 2017, more than $21 million has supported more than 650 Emergency Support Services projects throughout the province
Coming up: Emergency Preparedness Week in BC during May 3 to 9. The 2026 theme is “In it Together”.
Emergency management minister:
“When people have to leave their homes during an emergency, they need support to be available quickly,” said Kelly Greene, Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness.
“This funding helps communities prepare to deliver that support, from recruiting and training volunteers to equipment and supplies for reception centres and group lodging, helping ensure assistance is ready when people need it most,” says Greene.
Community Emergency Preparedness Fund:
Through the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund (CEPF), the Province is supporting 54 projects for 88 communities under the Emergency Support Services (ESS) Equipment and Training stream.
This funding will help communities expand their capacity to provide emergency support services through volunteer recruitment and retention, volunteer training and the purchase of ESS equipment and supplies.
This can include equipment and supplies such as IT equipment, hygiene kits, bedding, pillows and storage bins.
- CEPF is a suite of funding programs that helps local governments and First Nations prepare for disasters and reduce risks from natural hazards in a changing climate.
- The Province has committed $369 million into all the streams of CEPF since it was established in 2017.
- Including this intake, almost $350 million has been provided to First Nations and local governments for more than 2,700 projects throughout the province.
- In addition to ESS, the CEPF includes funding for emergency operations centres, volunteer and composite fire departments, public notification and evacuation route planning, and foundations in disaster risk reduction.
- The CEPF is administered by the Union of British Columbia Municipalities on behalf of the Province.
Local governments:
Emergency support services provide essential help to people evacuated from their homes, including registration, referrals, food, clothing, shelter and emotional support. Local governments and First Nations deliver these services with the help of trained volunteers.
“Emergency support services rely on people and practical readiness,” said Cori Ramsay, president, Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM).
“This funding helps communities strengthen both, by supporting trained volunteers and ensuring the right equipment is in place before emergencies happen. Local governments and First Nations know their communities best, and this program gives them the tools to be better prepared to support people when they need it most,” said Ramsay in a BC government news release on April 16.
Projects funded on Vancouver Island:
- Comox Valley Regional District (Sub-applicants: K’omoks First Nation, Comox, Courtenay, Cumberland) – Personal protective equipment, group lodging supplies, training and recruitment ($150,000)
- Cowichan Valley Regional District (Sub-applicants: Duncan, Ladysmith, Lake Cowichan, North Cowichan) – Group lodging equipment upgrades, mental health supports, training and development opportunity ($150,000)
- Langford – Team training, leadership development and essential equipment ($28,400). “With this provincial support, our local teams will be better equipped to help people. This funding strengthens our communities and helps us to continue building for the future.” ~ Ravi Parmar, MLA (Langford-Highlands)
- Parksville region (Sub-applicant: Qualicum Beach) – Training, cultural safety learning, personal protective equipment and volunteer development opportunity ($42,368)
- Regional: Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District (Sub-applicant: Port Alberni) – Group lodging and registration equipment, health and safety equipment and volunteer recognition ($60,000)
- Saanich – Evacuee registration and assistance tool enhancements, training and volunteer recruitment and recognition ($30,000)
- Sooke – IT equipment, training and volunteer recruitment and retention ($30,000). “With new IT equipment and expanded training, Sooke will be better equipped to support evacuees quickly and efficiently. This support helps to ensure our community is prepared for whatever comes our way.” ~ Dana Lajeunesse, MLA (Juan de Fuca–Malahat)
- Tofino – Responder readiness equipment, training and exercises ($30,000)
- Victoria – Volunteer recruitment and recognition and group lodging supplies ($15,287)
Projects funded on BC mainland:
- Cariboo Regional District – Volunteer retention and development opportunity ($23,738)
- Central Kootenay Regional District (Sub-applicant: Castlegar, Creston, Kaslo, Nakusp, Nelson, New Denver, Salmo, Silverton, Slocan) – Training, volunteer recruitment and group lodging equipment ($220,195)
- Central Okanagan Regional District (Sub-applicant: Peachland, Kelowna, Lake Country, Westbank First Nation, West Kelowna) – Reception centre and group lodging equipment and training ($180,000)
- Chawathil First Nation – Trailer, registrant training and evacuee supplies {$29,995)
- Chilliwack – Personal protective equipment and volunteer development opportunity ($10,921)
- Columbia Shuswap Regional District – Volunteer development opportunity, training and IT equipment ($28,448)
- Coquitlam – ESS service improvements and trauma-informed training ($25,000)
- Dease River First Nation – ESS evacuation support trailer ($30,000)
- Delta – Group lodging supplies and cultural humility training ($29,352)
- Dzawada’enuxw First Nation – Training and essential ESS responder equipment ($30,000)
- East Kootenay Regional District (Sub-applicants: Cranbrook, Invermere, Kimberley) – IT equipment, training and volunteer recruitment and development opportunity ($120,000)
- Fort Nelson First Nation – ESS evacuation support trailer ($30,000)
- Golden – Volunteer development opportunity, regional training exercises and IT upgrades ($29,056)
- Heiltsuk Nation – Emergency food supplies and essential equipment ($29,930)
- Hope – Training, equipment and volunteer development opportunity ($30,000)
- Ka:’yu:’k’t’h’/Che:k’tles7et’h’ First Nations – Mobile ESS trailer and climate control equipment ($29,775)
- Kamloops – Reception centre equipment and volunteer development opportunity ($30,000)
- Kitimat-Stikine Regional District – IT equipment, emergency shelter supplies and volunteer development opportunity ($29,701)
- Kootenay-Boundary Regional District – Volunteer development opportunity, training exercise and reception centre and group lodging kits ($30,000)
- Langley Township – Mobile reception centre kits and exercise ($30,000)
- McLeod Lake Indian Band – Volunteer development opportunity and equipment ($30,000)
- Merritt – Reception centre equipment and volunteer recruitment and development opportunity ($30,000)
- Nak’azdli Whut’en – IT equipment and joint ESS grant ($10,000)
- Neskonlith Indian Band – ESS trailer and orientation exercise ($29,787)
- Okanagan Indian Band – Mobile connectivity upgrades and volunteer recruitment and development opportunity ($30,000)
- Okanagan-Similkameen Regional District (Sub-applicants: Keremeos, Oliver, Osoyoos, Osoyoos Indian Band, Penticton, Princeton, SnPink’tn, Summerland, Upper Similkameen Indian Band) – IT equipment, volunteer recognition and training ($30,000)
- Prince George – ESS equipment, volunteer retention activities and exercises ($30,000)
- Prophet River First Nation – Evacuation support trailer ($30,000)
- Revelstoke – Volunteer recruitment and development opportunity and communications equipment ($21,331)
- Seabird Island Band – Comfort kits, training and development opportunity ($12,241)
- Sékw’elw’as – Evacuation support supplies ($30,000)
- Sema:th First Nation – Evacuee registration and assistance tool training, volunteer retention activities and IT equipment ($30,000)
- Shxw’ōwhámel First Nation – Introductory training, essential supplies and volunteer development opportunity ($28,469)
- Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw – Training and culturally appropriate group lodging supplies – ($30,000)
- Spuzzum First Nation – ESS evacuation support trailer ($30,000)
- Stz’uminus First Nation – Group lodging preparedness supplies, training and volunteer recruitment ($29,800)
- Sunshine Coast Regional District – Group lodging supplies and volunteer development opportunity ($30,000)
- Tk’emlups te Secwepemc – IT equipment, training supplies and volunteer development opportunity ($30,000)
- Tla’amin Nation – ESS capacity building: equipment, training, exercise and volunteer development opportunity ($30,000)
- Tsilhqot’in National Government – Cultural care kits and ESS IT equipment ($30,000)
- Tsleil-Waututh Nation – Group lodging supplies and safety-focused training ($29,992)
- Vanderhoof – Reception centre setup equipment, communications and training ($30,000)
- Wells – Reception centre trailer, training and volunteer recruitment ( $29,329)
- Williams Lake – Reception centre supplies and volunteer recognition and development opportunity ($28,457)
- Yaq̓it ʔa·knuqⱡi ‘it – Group lodging supplies, personal protective equipment and training ($25,520)
===== RELATED:
NEWS SECTIONS: EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS & SAFETY | EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT